Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Home
Over $175 Million
Recovered for Our Clients
Buffalo, New York, Car Accidents And Passenger Safety
Jed Dietrich, Esq. and His Team of Lawyers and Paralegals at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Want to Help All Drivers and Passengers Remain Safe on the Roadways of Western New York.
When drivers take passengers in their vehicles, they are taking the safety and lives of those passengers into their hands. New York State law requires car drivers and passengers to adhere to certain safety standards to keep everyone safe in the event of a collision. Unexpected collisions can happen to anyone, at any time. Following proper safety procedures will help to keep you and your loved ones safe.
For years, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has represented people who were injured because of the negligence of someone else. We understand the catastrophic and life-changing impact a car accident can have. It is our goal to help you and those you care about become more familiar with car passenger safety to ensure that you remain as safe as possible when riding in a car. If you, or someone you love, were seriously injured in a car accident that was the result of someone else’s negligence, call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. at 716-839-3939 today. Our team of Buffalo, New York car accident lawyers will happily provide you with a free consultation on your case.
Buckle Up In New York
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles provides many resources for car passenger and driver safety. For the most up to date information about car passenger safety and to learn more about the following tips in greater detail, visit dmv.ny.gov.
The most important element of car passenger safety is the use of a seatbelt. In New York State, law enforcement officers are allowed to issue tickets for failure to properly buckle up. New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1229-C outlines who must be buckled up on the road.
The driver of a vehicle can also be held responsible for the failure of other car passengers to obey seatbelt laws. Some elements of the seatbelt law, as outlined by the DMV, include:
- All front seat passengers must wear a seatbelt, regardless of age;
- All back seat passengers under the age of 16 must wear a seatbelt;
- All passengers in a vehicle operated by a driver with a NYS Learner’s Permit or a Junior License (class DJ) must wear a seatbelt, regardless of age; and
- Drivers are responsible for the compliance of passengers under the age of 16.
The DMV explains that people with a physical exemption from wearing a seatbelt must have documentation of the condition from a physician on hand while traveling in a vehicle.
While a seatbelt may be uncomfortable, pregnant women are required to wear a seatbelt in the front seat of a vehicle and encouraged to wear one in the back seat of a vehicle. Wearing a seatbelt is always the best way to keep both mother and baby safe. Pregnant women should ensure that the lap band of the seatbelt is low and across their hips, rather than across their belly.
Regardless of age or medical condition, it is always safest to wear your seatbelt. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that seatbelts saved 14,955 lives in 2017 alone. Seatbelt usage in the front seat of a car decreases your risk of fatal injury by 45% percent and your risk of moderate to severe injury by 50%. When you get in a car, whether you are a driver or a passenger, or in the front seat or back seat, it is always safest to wear your seatbelt.
WERE YOU INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT CAUSED BY SOMEONE ELSE'S NEGLIGENCE IN NEW YORK STATE?
CALL BUFFALO, NEW YORK CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY, JED DIETRICH, ESQ., TODAY AT 716-839-3939 FOR THE HELP THAT YOU NEED!
Child Passengers In New York
It is the responsibility of the driver of a vehicle to ensure the safety of all passengers under the age of 16. Drivers can be fined and ticketed if their young passengers are not safely restrained in the car. Children under 8 years old must ride in a proper child safety seat or appropriate child restraint system.
Child passenger safety guidelines are as follows:
- Children under 16 must wear a seatbelt regardless of where they are sitting in the car;
- Children under 4 must always ride in an age, size and weight appropriate child safety seat;
- Children aged 4 to 8 must always ride in an appropriate child restraint system;
- Children under 8 must always ride in the back seat of a car;
- It is recommended that children under the age of 12 not ride in the front seat of a car; and
- The driver of a car can be fined if children are not properly restrained or buckled.
Choosing the appropriate car seat or child restraint can be difficult. Manufacturer guidelines will help you determine the best style, size and functionality based on your child’s age, weight and height.
The New York State Police note that motor vehicle accidents account for 20% of all child deaths in the United States. According to the New York State Police, “In 2017, of the children who died in a crash, 49% of children ages 8-12, 36% of children ages 4-7, and 22% of children younger than age 4 were not buckled.” The use of proper safety restraints is imperative to keeping child passengers safe and preventing injury or death. However, the New York State Police also noted that, during child safety seat checks, they found more than 90% of child safety seats and restraints were not being properly used.
It is important to keep yourself knowledgeable about how to keep your child safe. For more information on car seats, booster seats and other child passenger safety, visit the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics, where you can find in depth articles about child passenger safety requirements.
WAS YOUR CHILD INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT CAUSED BY SOMEONE ELSE'S NEGLIGENCE IN NEW YORK STATE?
CALL BUFFALO, NEW YORK CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY, JED DIETRICH, ESQ. TODAY AT 716-839-3939 FOR THE HELP THAT YOU NEED!
Stay Safe New York Drivers!
The number one way to keep car passengers safe is to ensure that all car passengers are using proper safety restraints. Requirements vary by age and weight, but it is the responsibility of a driver to ensure that his or her passengers comply with New York State Law.
At the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., we hope that you and your loved ones never have to experience the trauma of a car accident. However, we do know that accidents happen every minute. If you were involved in a car accident that was the result of someone else’s negligence on the roads of Buffalo, New York; Rochester, New York; Niagara Falls, New York or elsewhere in New York State, please contact us at 716-839-3939. We can be reached 24 hours per day and 7 days per week for your free consultation.
We hope you and your loved ones can travel the roads of Western New York safely and remember—buckle up!
Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!
